Cornus florida L. plant named ‘SFCG1702’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Cornus florida L. plant (dogwood tree) named ‘SFCG1702’, characterized by having upright plant growth habit, extremely large, heart-like shaped and vivid purplish-red pink marginal floral bracts around inflorescence, many flowers on lower branches, elegant rose-like fragrance, and strong disease resistance, especially to powdery mildew.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Cornus floridaL.

Variety denomination: ‘SFCG1702’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinct hybrid cultivar of dogwoodtree (Cornus florida L.) named ‘SFCG1702’. This novel cultivar is theproduct of cross and selection for a big, pink-bracted dogwood, in thisinstance the result of an open pollination of white-bracted ‘White Love’cultivar (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,654), as a seed parent cultivar, withseveral red-bracted pollen parent cultivars. The cross and selection wascarried out for the period from 2006 to 2017 in Heiwa-Town,Inazawa-City, Aichi-prefecture, Japan.

In 2006 spring, the seed parent ‘White Love’ was open pollinated withpollen from several red-flowering dogwood pollen parent cultivars (allof which were unpatented, and cultivated in Inazawa-City,Aichi-prefecture, Japan). About 5,000 F₁ seeds of the cross between‘White Love’ and the several red-flowering dogwood pollen parents werecollected in 2006 autumn, and these seeds were sprouted in 2007 spring.About 2,500 seedlings from the F₁ seeds were transplanted in nurserypots in 2007 winter, and then 400 nursery plants derived from the aboveabout 2,500 seedlings were transplanted in the open-field in 2009winter.

The first flowering of the F₁ trees from the above-identified cross wereobserved in 2011 spring, and at the time, white flowering trees,pale-yellow flowering trees, and pink flowering trees were found. Thesetrees were flowered again in 2012 spring, and among these, the pinkflowering trees were selected as candidate mother trees. In 2013 spring,one pink flowering tree was established as a mother tree of the present‘SFCG1702’ cultivar. The shoots from the mother tree were grafted ontoseedling rootstocks (all of which were sprouted from the seedlingsresulting from the cross between ‘White Love’ (seed parent) and ‘JuniorMiss’ (pollen parent)), and the investigation of these trees on theplant characteristics of ‘SFCG1702’ cultivar was commenced in 2015autumn. This investigation was completed in 2017 spring.

As will be understood from the detailed description of the inventionwhich appears hereinafter, the new cultivar ‘SFCG1702’ has clearlydifferent characteristics from those of the seed parent cultivar ‘WhiteLove’, and ‘Cherokee Chief’ (the representative cultivar of redflowering dogwoods) (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 1,710). ‘SFCG1702’ is in factoutstanding and readily identified as being such.

The present ‘SFCG1702’ cultivar has been repeatedly asexually reproducedby grafting onto rootstock in Heiwa-Town, Inazawa-City,Aichi-prefecture, Japan. All trees of ‘SFCG1702’ have reproducedasexually true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new dogwood cultivar ‘SFCG1702’ exhibits outstanding anddistinguishing characteristics when grown under normal horticulturalconditions, including:

-   -   (1) upright plant growth habit;    -   (2) having extremely large, heart-like shaped and vivid        purplish-red pink marginal floral bracts around inflorescence;    -   (3) many flowers attach to lower branches;.    -   (4) elegant rose-like fragrance of flowers;    -   (5) strong disease resistance, especially to powdery mildew.

‘SFCG1702’ has plant characteristics of upright plant growth habit,spectacular extremely large and vivid purplish-red pink colored floralbracts, and elegant rose-like fragrance, so that it is suitable as astreet tree and a garden tree.

Since ‘SFCG1702’ has upright plant growth habit and is less likely tospread branches transversely, it can be densely planted even in arelatively narrow street or house garden. In addition, the branches of‘SFCG1702’ are less likely to be broken off from a tree due toaccumulated snow. Furthermore, cultivation management of ‘SFCG1702’ isrelatively easy, because it does not require frequent pruning, and hasstrong disease resistance especially to powdery mildew.

‘SFCG1702’ has four extremely large, heart-like shaped and vividpurplish-red pink marginal floral bracts around each inflorescence, andmany flowers attach to lower branches, so that it has excellentornamental value.

‘SFCG1702’ clearly differs from its seed parent cultivar ‘White Love’,due to its vivid purplish-red pink colored floral bracts and elegantrose-like fragrance.

In addition, ‘SFCG1702’ clearly differs from the representative cultivarof red flowering dogwoods ‘Cherokee Chief’, which has semi-upright plantgrowth habit and small red flowers, in the point that ‘SFCG1702’ hasupright plant growth habit, and extremely large, vivid purplish-red pinkmarginal floral bracts and elegant rose-like fragrance.

It should be noted that the plant age of all the plants of ‘SFCG1702’,which were observed for botanical description, was 3 years.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This new cultivar of dogwood is illustrated by the accompanying digitalcolor photographs, depicting defining characteristics of the plant bythe best possible color photography. Colors of foliage, flowers andother plant parts may vary from year to year depending on, among otherfactors, horticultural practices, light conditions, air temperature,soil fertility, etc.

FIG. 1 illustrates an entire tree of ‘SFCG1702’ in bloom (photographeddate: Apr. 23, 2018; photographed location: Inazawa-City,Aichi-prefecture, Japan; and the age of photographed ‘SFCG1702’: 3years).

FIG. 2 illustrates multiple sets of an inflorescence and four floralbracts of ‘SFCG1702’ on a tree (photographed date: Apr. 23, 2018;photographed location: Inazawa-City, Aichi-prefecture, Japan; and theage of photographed ‘SFCG1702’: 3 years).

FIG. 3 illustrates the size of one set of an inflorescence and fourfloral bracts of ‘SFCG1702’ on 1 cm grid cutting mat (photographed date:Apr. 25, 2017; photographed location: Inazawa-City, Aichi-prefecture,Japan; and the age of photographed ‘SFCG1702’: 3 years).

FIG. 4 illustrates the size of an inflorescence of ‘SFCG1702’ shown on avernier caliper (photographed date: Apr. 26, 2016; photographedlocation: Inazawa-City, Aichi-prefecture, Japan; and the age ofphotographed ‘SFCG1702’: 3 years).

FIG. 5 illustrates the size of one set of an inflorescence and fourfloral bracts of the similar cultivar ‘Cherokee Chief’ on 1 cm gridcutting mat (photographed date: Jul. 25, 2017; photographed location:Inazawa-City, Aichi-prefecture, Japan; and the age of photographed‘Cherokee Chief’: 3 years).

FIG. 6 illustrates the size of one set of an inflorescence and fourfloral bracts of the similar cultivar (seed parent) ‘White Love’ on 1 cmgrid cutting mat (photographed date: Apr. 25, 2017; photographedlocation: Inazawa-City, Aichi-prefecture, Japan; and the age ofphotographed ‘White Love’: 3 years).

FIG. 7 illustrates elliptic leaves of ‘SFCG1702’ in growing season(photographed date: Sep. 23, 2016; photographed location: Inazawa-City,Aichi-prefecture, Japan; and the age of photographed ‘SFCG1702’: 3years).

FIG. 8 illustrates the height of a tree of ‘SFCG1702’ in fall autumnleaves (photographed date: Nov. 13, 2018; photographed location:Inazawa-City, Aichi-prefecture, Japan; and the age of photographed‘SFCG1702’: 3 years).

FIG. 9 illustrates an upper surface and a lower surface of two leaves of‘SFCG1702’, respectively (photographed date: Apr. 19, 2016; photographedlocation: Inazawa-City, Aichi-prefecture, Japan; and the age ofphotographed ‘SFCG1702’: 3 years).

FIG. 10 illustrates an entire tree of ‘SFCG1702’ without foliage(photographed date: Mar. 7, 2019; photographed location: Inazawa-City,Aichi-prefecture, Japan; and the age of photographed ‘SFCG1702’: 3years).

FIG. 11 illustrates vivid reddish orange colored fruits of ‘SFCG1702’(photographed date: Oct. 24, 2016; photographed location: Minuma-Ward,Saitama-City, Saitama-prefecture, Japan; and the age of photographed‘SFCG1702’: 3 years).

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

-   1. Plant:    -   -   Form.—Tree.        -   Growth habit.—Upright.        -   Plant height.—High (0.6 m at 1-year).        -   Plant spread.—Narrow (7 cm at 1-year).        -   Cold hardiness.—Almost the same as that of ‘Cherokee Chief’            (to −10° C.).        -   Heat tolerance.—Almost the same as that of ‘Cherokee Chief’            (to +40° C.).        -   Resistance to disease.—Stronger than that of ‘Cherokee            Chief’, especially to powdery mildew.        -   Resistance to insects.—Almost the same as that of ‘Cherokee            Chief’.-   2. Branches:    -   -   Diameter of branches.—Narrow (average diameter 2.2 cm; range            1.9-2.5 cm, n=10).        -   Color of shoots (April).—Strong Yellow Green (RHS Code:            145A).        -   Color of branches.—Dark Red (RHS Code: 183A).        -   Surface pattern of branches.—None.        -   Ramification.—Almost the same as that of ‘Cherokee Chief’.        -   Internode length.—Average length 9.7 cm (range 7.3-14.5 cm,            n=10).        -   The angle of the intermediate portion of a branch to the            trunk in the intermediate portion of tree.—29.2° on average            (range 25°-33° , n=10).-   3. Leaves:    -   -   Leaf shape.—Elliptic.        -   Leaf tip shape.—Apiculate.        -   Leaf base shape.—Obtuse.        -   Leaf margin shape.—Entire.        -   Curvature of leaf.—Turn outward.        -   Undulation of leaf margin.—None.        -   Leaf blade length.—Average length 10.6 cm (range 9.9-12.6            cm, n=10).        -   Leaf blade width.—Average width 5.4 cm (range 4.7-6.0 cm,            n=10).        -   Thickness of leaf blade.—Almost the same as that of            ‘Cherokee Chief’ and general dogwoods.        -   Color of new bud.—Dark Red (RHS Code: 183B).        -   Color of new leaf.—Grayish brown (RHS Code: 166A).        -   Color of upper surface of mature leaf.—Moderate Olive Green            (RHS Code: 147A).        -   Color of lower surface of mature leaf.—Pale Green (RHS Code:            190B).        -   Changeability of leaf color.—No change between new leaf and            mature leaf prior to change to autumn color.        -   Color of autumn leaf (mid-October).—Dark Red (RHS Code:            187B).        -   Mottle on leaf.—None.        -   Glossiness of leaf blade.—Lustrous.        -   Hairs on upper surface of leaf.—Almost the same as that of            ‘Cherokee Chief’.        -   Hairs on lower surface of leaf.—Fewer than that of ‘Cherokee            Chief’.        -   Leaf veins.—Easily visible.        -   Diameter of petiole.—Average diameter 1.5 mm (range 1.0-2.0            mm, n=10).        -   Length of petiole.—Average length 9.7 mm (range 6.0-13.5 mm,            n=10).        -   Color of petiole.—Brilliant Yellow Green (RHS Code: 150A).-   4. Flowers:    -   -   Inflorescence.—        -   Type of inflorescence.—Flower head. dense, rounded mound.        -   Direction of inflorescence.—Upward facing.        -   Size of inflorescence (flower head).—Average diameter 20.2            mm (range 17.5-21.0 mm, n=10).        -   Size of inflorescence including floral bracts.—Average            diameter 11.3 cm (range 10.9-12.8 mm, n=10).        -   Floret (true flower).—        -   Size of floret.—Average diameter 3.5 mm (range 3.0-4.0 mm,            n=10).        -   Color of floret.—Strong Greenish Yellow (RHS Code: 151B).        -   Shape of floret.—Rounded.        -   Floral bracts.—        -   Flowering habit.—Single-flowered.        -   Overlapping of floral bracts.—Overlapping.        -   Opening habit of floral bracts.—Horizontal.        -   Warping habit of floral bracts.—Horizontal.        -   Degree of warping of floral bracts.—Extremely weak.        -   Curvature of floral bracts.—Horizontal.        -   Twist of floral bracts.—None.        -   Shape of entire floral bract.—Obovate.        -   Shape of tip of floral bract.—Concave shape.        -   Length of floral bract.—Average length 54.1 mm (range 51-61            mm, n=10).        -   Width of floral bract.—Average width 46.8 mm (range            42.1-56.0 mm, n=10).        -   Number of floral bracts.—Four (two opposing pairs).        -   Color of floral bracts (base color).—Greenish white (RHS            Code: 155C).        -   Pattern of floral bracts.—Vein pattern.        -   Color of pattern of floral bracts.—Vivid purplish Red (RHS            Code: N57B).        -   Diameter of peduncle.—Average diameter 2.1 mm (range 1.6-1.9            mm, n=10).        -   Length of peduncle.—Average length 28.3 mm (range 23.2-31.5            mm, n=10).        -   Color of peduncle.—Brilliant Yellow Green (RHS Code: 149A).        -   Fragrance of flower.—Elegant rose-like fragrance.-   5. Reproductive organs:    -   -   Color of pistil.—Strong Yellow Green (RHS Code: 144A).        -   Color of stamen.—Pale Yellow Green (RHS Code: 155A).-   6. Fruit    -   -   Shape of fruit.—Elliptic.        -   Length of fruit.—Almost the same as that of ‘Cherokee Chief’            (average 1.3 mm; range 1.1-1.6 mm, n=10).        -   Width of fruit.—Almost the same as that of ‘Cherokee Chief’            (average 0.9 mm; range 0.7-1.1 mm, n=10).        -   Color of fruit.—Vivid Reddish Orange (RHS Code: 44B).-   7. Others:    -   -   Fertile property.—High (Almost the same as that of ‘Cherokee            Chief’).        -   Blooming.—One-season blooming. The first ornamental display            of the large floral bracts are observed around April 20 in            Aichi-prefecture, Japan, and the floral display of the large            floral bracts typically lasts about ten days, depending on            weather conditions.        -   Defoliation.—Deciduous.        -   Time of fruit maturity.—Late October in Aichi-prefecture,            Japan.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Cornus florida L.plant (dogwood tree) named ‘SFCG1702’, substantially as hereinillustrated and described, characterized particularly as to novelty byexhibiting upright plant growth habit, and extremely large, vividpurplish-red pink marginal floral bracts.